The Voiceless Minority

Imagine you had just graduated from high school and you are considering what to do next. You have a passion for learning and helping others, so you decide to pursue teaching as a career. For those who do pursue this noble profession, the world says thank you. I went to school to become a teacher, but due to circumstances and individual biases, I did not end up becoming one in the traditional sense. I have indeed found my way to teach through this blog and my advocacy efforts; however, this particular piece is a nod to teachers in the traditional sense. It will discuss teaching as a profession and a teaching style that I wish had been more prevalent when I was in school pursuing my post-secondary education. What is that style, you may ask? It is known as inclusive learning. To begin, let’s discuss what it takes to become a teacher in America versus other places around the world. To become a teacher in America, one has to obtain at least a bachelor’s degree in either education or a par...

What does it mean to teach? In simple basic terms, according to the dictionary, it is a verb. It means to impart knowledge of or skill in; give instruction in, and impart knowledge or skill to; instruct to. We all understand the basic definition of teaching. The question is, how do we define teachable moments or teachers themselves? I recently graduated with a Master's in education. Still, my institution told me that I could not get a teacher's certification, according to Pennsylvania, because I was too disabled to teach. At first, this statement, to put it nicely, perplexed me. What did it mean I was also disabled to teach? How could they judge me without allowing me to try? As time has gone by, I have begun to understand their position. I disagree with it, but I understand it now. They look at disabled people in a traditional box. Due to my physical limitations, they could not look past my lack of physical capability and see the great deal of knowledge that I c...